Verhoeven’s ‘Black’ is Dutch Oscar entry

Historical pic to fly flag for Netherlands

Academy Awards season is grinding into gear with Wednesday’s news that Netherlands film promo body Holland Film has chosen Paul Verhoeven’s “Black Book” as the Dutch entry in Oscar’s foreign-language film race.

Story revolves around a German-Jewish girl who’s hiding in Holland during WWII and joins the resistance after her family is killed.

Fu Works produced the pic, which was co-produced by German Egoli Tossel Film, Blighty’s Clockwork Pictures and Dutch Motel Films and Hector.

“Black Book” will preem internationally at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 1 and receive a Gala presentation at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 13, the day before it opens in the Netherlands.

Last year’s Dutch submission, “Bluebird,” was disqualified because it had aired on TV before its theatrical release. The mid-December disqualification came too late for Holland to submit another film.

Dutch pics have won three times. The most recent winner was Mike van Diem’s ‘Character’ in 1997.

Entry forms for the foreign language category must be received by Oct. 2. The Oscars will be held Feb. 25.